Calling all of the youngest book fans: Lauren O. continues to bring exciting stories (and little snacks!) to kids in the store every Saturday morning at 11 AM. Round up the kids and swing by as often as you can -- we'd love to entertain them for a bit. You'll find our January and February schedule of themes and books in the PDF here -- and you're welcome to circulate the flyer where you wish!

The burdensome part of being a bookseller -- oh, wait, there are many burdensome parts, really, believe us, if you can (suspend disbelief) -- rather, one of the MOST burdensome tasks we have is reading manuscripts, galleys, and advance reading copies of books you won't see in the store for months. But we do it, just for you. Someone has to, you know? It would further pain us to relate news of less-than-stellar forthcoming books, but in the interest of, er, enormous enthusiasm, we're going to give you a heads-up on some that have, well, simply blown us away.

To begin: you must watch for Tea Obreht's The Tiger's Wife. It arrives March 8 from Random House; this modern, complex legend is simply thrilling. Obreht was named a New Yorker "20 under 40"; they certainly got that right.

Don't read anything resembling a thriller? Oh, yeah, we understand. But you must grab David Vann's Caribou Island, which lands any day now. Riveting, yes, hard to forget, yes. It's one of the most honest portraits of a marriage, of love, of loss, of isolation. (David will be speaking at The Booksmith on February 9, by the way.)

If you read Karen Russell's St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, you will most certainly want to watch for her Swamplandia!, a most curious, most unsettling novel coming on the first of February. She (also a New Yorker "20 under 40"; what is it with these young writers anyway?) is an amazingly original and haunting writer; it isn't likely you'll forget the fantastic and fantastical Bigtree clan nor their intimately-understood Florida.

Introducing our Winter Catalog 2010/11. A hand-culled mix of the Booksmith's favorite new titles this season with thoughts for everyone on your holiday list.Peruse it online and pick up your printed copy in the store.

Over this week, and likely some of next week, Gary Kamiya's reading the first volume of Mark Twain's Autobiography, published by UC Press. He'll be posting intermiitent thoughts, ideas, samples, and musings during the reading project, all of which will be posted at Bay Citizen. Kamiya's opening is here -- read and enjoy! Let us know if you'd like us to hold a copy of the book for you; we'd be happy to.